Stereotyping behavior is described as an individual’s tendency to hold a generalized belief about a particular group of people. Stereotyping cause people to have certain expected traits within a cluster of people based on assumptions and prior knowledge about the group (Nelson, 2009). Intergroup bias significantly impacts stereotyping behavior. The bias can result from both controlled and automatic social cognitive processing. Stereotyping behavior can either be blatant or subtle.
Blatant stereotyping behavior is much more open in society. It involves explicitly measuring attributes that relate to a particular group of people (Stone & McWhinnie, 2008). For instance, African Americans are generally perceived as trouble makers compared to their white counterparts since most criminal records show that they are often involved in illegal activities (Inzlicht, & Kang, 2010). In this example, African Americans are directly and openly branded as trouble makers compared to the white citizens depicting blatant stereotyping.
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Studies show that subtle stereotyping behavior is likely to occur when stigmatized individuals hold minority status in a performance context or when an out-group member administers a task (Stone, & McWhinnie, 2008). For instance, patients are more likely to prefer a medical professional from their race instead of a different race. A white patient is expected to be more comfortable when cared for by a caregiver who is also white. When a doctor from a different race treats a patient, subtle stereotyping resulting from the treatment being administered by an out-group doctor may occur.
Stereotyping is significantly influenced by cognitive processes that allow the analysis of perceived objects in the social context. The automatic processing involves minimal cognitive and emotional resources to form a stereotype, unlike controlled processing (Banaji, & Hardin, 1996). Studies show that blatant stereotyping consumes more cognitive resources that subtle stereotyping. The identity of the test administrator in subtle stereotyping does not induce much cognitive load. Blatant stereotyping, on the other hand, is more controlled and conscious and involves cognitive resources (Stone, & McWhinnie, 2008). It allows individuals to identify with an in-group and form intergroup bias against an out-group. Controlled processing in blatant stereotyping enables an individual to profile an out-group with a blatant stereotype systematically.
I would mitigate blatant stereotyping behavior by sensitizing the society on the detrimental effects of discrimination. Society members must appreciate their racial and ethnic differences and realize that we all belong to the human race. This would ensure that blatant stereotyping of the out-group members is curbed as people view each other as equals. Subtle stereotyping, on the other hand, can be controlled through diversification in the social context, especially in organizations. For instance, an African American chief surgeon in a healthcare facility would reduce subtle stereotyping of black doctors.
References
Banaji, M. R., & Hardin, C. D. (1996). Automatic stereotyping. Psychological science , 7 (3), 136-141.
Inzlicht, M., & Kang, S. K. (2010). Stereotype threat spillover: how coping with threats to social identity affects aggression, eating, decision making, and attention. Journal of personality and social psychology , 99 (3), 467.
Nelson, T. D. (2009). Handbook of prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination . Psychology Press.
Stone, J., & McWhinnie, C. (2008). Evidence that blatant versus subtle stereotype threat cues impact performance through dual processes. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology , 44 (2), 445-452.
